Tail-light for automobiles.



.DODDS.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

I. DODDS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO FLANNERY BOLT COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TAIL-LIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. I2, tgt,

Application led December 6, 1916. Serial No. 135,470.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ETHAN I. DoDDs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in T ail-Lights for Automobiles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in signal lamps, and particularly tail lamps for automobiles, and it consists in a disk provided on one face with a coating containing salts of radium or other substance which will give out radio active rays, in combination with a magnifying or enlarging lens vlocated infront of the coated surface and a colored glass plate in front of the lens, the whole being carried by a frame that can be conveniently attached to a vehicle body or its underframe. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in section of my improvement and Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation thereof.

1 represents a holder preferably circular in shape, with a projection 9. having a hole 3 through same for the passage of an attaching screw or bolt. The holder is provided on its front face with a. raised circular seat 4, for a disk or diaphragm 5, the latter being preferably mica and provided on its front face with a coating containing salts of radium, or other material that will give ott' or emit radio active rays of sufficient intensity when magnified by the magnifying or enlarging lens 6, to be clearly seen.

The lens 6 is seated on the annular shoulder 7 formed in the fiber or porcelain ring 8. which is secured to the holder 1 by the-screws 9. The mica or other diaphragm 5 is clamped between the seat 4 and ring S, and the lens 6 is held in place against shoulder 7 by the ring 9a, which closely fits within the counterbored portion of ring 8 and rests against the edge of the lens G.

8' is a spun brass cover of a size and shape to snugly fit the ring 8 and is provided with a ange 10 which overlaps the colored glass plate 11 which is seated on the outer edge of ring 8 and covers the lens. The cover 8 is held in place by screws 12, and by removing the screws, the cover 8a, colored glass plate 11, ring 9 and lens 6 may be removed.

The rays emitted from the active surface of the disk 5, are magnified or intensified by the enlarging glass or lens 6 and show as a colored4 light through the glass 11, and it has been found in practice that the glow is sufficient to show the color on well lighted streets.

With this construction the tail light is permanent and does not require any attention, and operates without any expense whatsoever.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A tail light for vehicles consisting of a portable frame adapted for attachment to the vehicle, the said frame carrying a radioactive member, an enlarging glass covering the active surface of said member and a colored glass covering the enlarging glass.

2. A tail light for vehicles consisting of a portable frame or housing adapted for attachment to the vehicle. a member within said housing and coated with a radio-active substance, an enlarging glass also within said housing and adjacent to theactive face of said coated member, and a glass plate forming a closure for the outer open end of the housing.

3. A tail light for vehicles consisting of a portable holder adapted for attachment to a vehicle, a disk carried by said holder and coated on one face with a radio-active substance. a ring secured to the holder and surrounding the coating on the disk, an enlarging glass within the ring, a colored glass covering the enlarging glass and means securing said parts together.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ETHAN I. DODDS.

Witnesses i F. H. Ameisen, EDWIN Sri-:Nenn Riten. 

